Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-23
JUDGE Lynch.

ladng tribunal presided over by Justice
Lynch until l went to reside for few
months in neighboring State, where ru-
mor has it that Judge Lynch made his
debut.
The meeting came about this way
There had been long and expensive Judi
cial season at X; and Mallory Jock, the
criminal lawyer. had saved another victim
from the sword of justice The name OF
the sinner who was snatched from the
hands OF the hangman was Black Bill. Bill
was exceedingly handy with his pistol.
and on this occasion had shot and killed
the conductor of street car because he
persisted in trying to collect the car fare.
As both lawyer and client were notorious,
the trial brought the whole population to
the Courthouse to witness the illegal con-
test, and, as usual, the bar came out yicto-
rious. Bill had mistaken the conductors
ticket punch for pistol, the official for a
rObber, and had shot the latter in self-de-
Tense; besides forcing the Judge to charge
that if the defendant really mistook the
bell-punch for pistol, pointed in a mena-
cling and dangerous manner, they were
bound, III fact, TO treat it as though it was
veritable revolver, with 3S-caliber shot
~ ~, and not an innocent recording bell
punch.
OF course Bill was acquitted, and he
walked down Main street, the admired cen
ter of all gazers. This was the farce. The
tragedy came about in this way
AS may be anticipated, Bill was very
much elated over his escape, especially as
1t happened to be his third trial for muir
der and he was rather superstitious about
the figure 3. He celebrated it in roaring
spree, which lasted a week and kept that
part of the town in an uproar. There was
drinking, singing and fghing in harmoni-
Gus and constant succession as though Bill
was going to introduce the famous Bacchic
revels and life was to be an orgy of drink
ing and fisticuff. 1t was about the third
day of the feast when the barkeeper. in a
thoughtful moment, demanded payment
Of the score, in default of which he pro-
posed to tumble the gang" into the street.
Bill, whose life had just been saved at an
expense to the State of a thousand dollars.
was naturally indignant, and in the alb.
sence of his pistol he knocked the thoughtful
barkeeper down with beer glass. Then
the fight commenced between the proprie-
tor and his men and Bill and the q gang"
and the battle ragged and surged from the
bar-room 10 the kitchen, and from the
kitchen to the street, each new conner lend
ing a hand or a stone Finally the Town
Marshal came rushing into the crowd and
knocked the brawlers with his club right
and left, and unfortunately Bill among the
rest. The latter sneaked quietly across the
street, came back with a shotgun, poured
the contents OF both barrels into the back
OF the fighting Marshal aud killed him on
hespOt. This was the climax. The brawl
ceased as suddenly as it had arisen-the
fighters skunk back from Bill in disgust
and even he turned his blood-shot ewes
anxiously down at the now quiet Marshal.
Thep he placed the gun in corner. and
some one whispered " Git" and he walked
out into the street and after a moments
pause skunk rapidly away under the shad-
ows of the houses and the trees
He had not walked dozen squares be-
fore he perceived that there was something
the matter with either the people or the
town. Men ran ahead of him, others fol-
lowed and logged his footsteps and doors
were banged as he passed. Hank the FIRE
bell was ringing, and the whistle of the
ferryboat awoke the echoes on the river.
The stream of lights in the distance was not
made up of fire flies, but of men and boys
carrying lanterns, and armed with clubs
and shotguns. He tried several doors on
the way, well-known places of refuge, but
they were closed, and no CLINT of light from
the windows.
Then came the tramp, tramp of march
ing men, and in darting around the corner
he found himself instantly surrounded with
mob, who ordered him brutallv to stand
and hold up his hands Bill smiled as he
recognized the voice, and lazily complied
with the order; then he scanned the crowd
eagerly, but they were masked, and the
emily plain, unmistakable thing was the re-
volver, which cleaned at him from all di-
rechOns. The leader, in his red shirt,
slouehed hat pantaloons stuffed in his
boots, and under his arm long, black bar
relied rifle, stood cycling him in silence
Hello, Long Jim" said Bill, animated
with O sudden CLEAN of hope, you'll give
fellow a chance for his life, won't you.
JIM"
What r replied the leader, contemptu-
eusly. al don't know yer This ami no
rsbbit-hunting party-this is Judge Lynchl
There has been killing enough in this
town-thereH be another, and then the
thing will stop. Fold your arms-right
about face, march p
Yes this was Judge Lynch-Court, Jury
and executioner. all in one.
When the itinerant court passed nv
door / was smoking an evening cigar, and
having heard the alarm bell, was search
ing the horizon for the sign of fire, which
nowhere could be seen. The moon was
out. and but for the flying procession of
clouds that continually scudded in front,
the town of K was fairly lit up with the
white, silent light. / was still wondering
if the clouds meant rain or snow, when the
odd and fantastic judicial procession
marched silently by. No funeral party
was graver, made less noise or marched
with more decorum. There was only one
exception to the general good behavior.
and that was the impression of the by
ISLANDERS. Every locker on was immedi-
ateiy pressed" into the crowd Not one
was allowed to look and depart, but he was
forced TO assist in the ceremony. was in
the doorway when a fellow. hideously
draped and disguised, laid hold upon me,
and pointing with his revolver to the mob
told me 20 fall in
Why, certainly" and marched with
the rest.
AS there was very little talking there was
abundant opportunity for reflection, and
yet probably the only one who was doing
any systematic thinking was the victim
Bill, as he turned his head from right to
lett vainly searching for some sign of sue
cor.
For myself, no sooner guessed the OBJ
jeot-or rather purpose-of the judicial
train than my curiosity overrode and
silenoed ali legal seTuples to the ENTERPRISE
Besides, consoled myself with the thought
that as all our great jurists and statesmen
had found no higher source of authority
than the people, and that everything came
from and wss for the benefit of the people.
surely an impromptu tribunal of the peo-
pie like Jadge Lynch was beyond impeach-
ment On we went, from street to street
and pike to pike, the crowd constantly gain.
ing in size and hope of rescue consequently
diminishing. AS the eager people outtanked
Bill on either side, he could not help motto
ing the difference between the sullen and
scornful glance of these mems eyes, to the
pleasant, watery-eyed, benevolent looks OF
his friends. the late jury; no tears, 40
smiies over the pathos or humor of ooun-
sci here; only anger, dark and vicious as
she ocean at night.
onse or twice Bill would side up to the
tall, gsunt leader, and whisper, as he tried